District News

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Email: nw.media@nwschools.org
Website: www.nwschools.org
Location: 6900 Rives Junction Road, Jackson, MI, USA
Phone: 517-817-4700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwschools/
Twitter: @nwschools

• 10/7- Early Release
• 10/7- Count Day
• 10/9- NWEE Picture Day
• 10/14- Coffee with the Superintendent at Biggby on Springport
• 10/14- NWHS & NWMS Fall Choir Concert
  
• 10/14- Early Release
• 10/15- District-Wide Cancer Awareness Day
• 10/16- NO SCHOOL
• 10/17- MSBOA Marching Band Festival
• 10/19- NO SCHOOL
• 10/21- Early Release
• 10/21- NWMS 6th Grade Choir Concert
• 10/22- NWHS Mountie Montage
• 10/22- NWMS Conferences
• 10/24- Annual Trunk-N-Treat
• 10/27- NWMS & NW Connect Conferences
• 10/28- Early Release
• 10/29- NWHS Conferences
• 11/4- Early Release
• 11/4 & 11/5- NWEE & NWEL Conferences
• 11/6- Sweet Music @ NWHS

WILX News 10 is once again featuring their award-winning “Schools Rule” segment, highlighting the incredible students, staff, and programs across mid-Michigan — and we’d love to see your stories shared!

If you have something special happening at our school, please consider submitting it to WILX. Just send an email to newstips@wilx.com with “Schools Rule” in the subject line and include:

• Contact name, phone number, and email

• School name and address

• Date/time of the event

• A short description of the students, staff, or program you'd like recognized

We are excited to share an upcoming change to the way you access our school menus online and through a mobile app.

SFE will be transitioning from Nutrislice to LINQ Solutions for our online menu and mobile app services. This change will enable us to bring our menu services together with the technology we already use behind the scenes.

What This Means for You?

This change will take effect beginning with September menus. On September 1, your school's menus will be available through LINQ's menu platform.

We appreciate your patience and support as we make this improvement. We believe bringing these services together will create a better experience for our students, families, and school communities.

Northwest Community Schools is excited to offer families access to the Here Comes the Bus app, which provides real-time bus tracking and transportation updates.

To create an account, families will need their student’s ID number. Student ID numbers can be found on report cards, transcripts, and class schedules.

If you do not have access to any of these documents, please email nw.media@nwschools.org and include the following information:

• Parent/Guardian Name
• Student Name
• Home Address

Our team will work to provide your student’s ID number as quickly as possible so you can complete your Here Comes the Bus registration.

Northwest High School’s marching band has been selected to perform at America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, MI! Congratulations to the entire band and Band Director, Mr. Bryan Mangiavellano, on this incredible achievement- a true testament to Greatness happening in our Mountie Nation.

This year marks the 100th edition of the parade and will once again feature celebrity appearances, iconic floats, massive balloons and hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the streets of Detroit. In addition to the live audience, millions of viewers from across the country will watch the television broadcast and see our Mounties march down Woodward Avenue.

“It’s a really special thing for this band in particular, which is full of really talented students, especially our senior class, to do something beyond what we would normally do in a football season,” Mangiavellano said. “It’s just fun to see them earn these really cool opportunities.”

Mangiavellano is proud of his students and all they have accomplished, and he is thrilled to see their enthusiasm to continue learning, growing and challenging themselves.

“A lot of students are in band because they know there are high expectations and high rewards,” he said. “We have fun by working hard and being good at what we’re trying to do. I think a lot of kids like that. When a kid joins the Northwest band, they know they’re going to be able to learn and showcase their abilities at different levels.”

The opportunity to perform in such a large and recognized event is an honor for senior Drum Major Kristen Cumings, who is excited to show everyone what the Marching Mounties are capable of.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure,” Cumings said. “I’m nervous, but I’m also really excited. This band is really impressive and I’m excited to show that off to a bunch of people.”

As a senior, Cumings hopes to leave a legacy that inspires future band members to achieve Greatness.

“I’m really proud of this band and what we’ve been able to do,” she said. “Being a senior just makes this even more special. I’ll be able to look back on this and really think of all the awesome people I was able to do it with.”

This amazing accomplishment by our Marching Mounties is a testament to their hard work and passion for music. Thank you to all the supporters and families of the band for your commitment and dedication to the program. We are so proud of our Mounties and excited to watch them perform this Thanksgiving!

We are…Northwest!

Go Mounties!!

America’s Thanksgiving Parade steps off at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026 and is approximately a 90 minute march. It follows a roughly three-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue, beginning at Kirby and Woodward and ending at Congress and Woodward.

The public can attend the parade for free and spectate along much of the route. For more spectator and parking information, click here.

Students in 8th grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult to attend ALL home Northwest High School athletics events/games.

High School athletic events are $6 per person with the option to pay cash or card at the door, or visit gofan.co.

Lace up your running or walking shoes and join us for the Northwest Athletic Boosters 5K Run and 5K Walk! Whether you're racing for a PR, walking with friends and family, or coming out to support Northwest athletics, this is a great way to get moving and show your Mountie pride!

The event starts and finishes at Northwest High School and is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. Our youngest participants can get in on the fun too with a 1-Mile Fun Run for grades K–5!

Fun Run starts at 8:30 A.M.

5K Run or Walk starts at 9:00 A.M.

Prizes for winners in each category.

Costumes encouraged but not required.

Northwest Community Schools is incredibly proud of the Boys Tennis Team for winning the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament Championship on Monday (Sept. 28, 2026) for its first conference tournament title in program history!

Nine student-athletes earned All-Conference recognition and six of the Mounties’ eight singles and doubles teams made the finals, helping Northwest to a championship in its final year as a member of the I8 conference.

“It’s the first time in our history winning the conference championship, so it meant a lot,” Head Coach Ron Woodruff said. “It was something we had been striving for. To win the conference in the last year we have a shot to win the I8 because we’re moving to a new conference, it was incredible. To see the joy and the passion on those kids’ faces when they found out they won, it was really special.”

Woodruff specifically praised the senior leaders on his team for their dedication to the program. He also thanked James Cumings, Nick Rush, Austin Burkhart and Devin Robertson for helping coach the team and playing significant roles in developing the players.

The Mounties dominated conference play this year, winning the regular season title outright and then carrying that momentum into the postseason with another commanding performance in the conference tournament. Junior Jaedan Lincoln and senior Gabriel Falsini, who captured All-Conference honors with a win at 2 doubles Monday, believed the team’s success during regular season action helped them build confidence for postseason play.

Along with Lincoln and Falsini, senior Reed Clark and junior Bode Rush also earned All-Conference honors with championship victories at 2 singles and 3 singles, respectively.

“It was super exciting,” Clark said. “We’ve put in so much work, especially us seniors. It was huge for us and a big goal of ours. We knew it was accomplishable and we made it happen.”

Bode Rush credited the success to starting the year strong at the Adrian Quad. From there, he could feel the players’ confidence grow as the team continually improved throughout the season.

One of the Mounties’ singles players and two doubles teams earned All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition for finishing second place overall. Senior Levi Youngman claimed second place at 4 singles while the tandem of sophomore Macalister Perrine and freshman Jack Runkel took home second place at 3 doubles. The top doubles pairing of senior Jaxon Gerding and junior Gavin Warren were also tabbed All-Conference Honorable Mention.

“It was great seeing all the hard work we’ve put in throughout the summer and season pay off,” Warren said. “Having six out of your eight teams go to the finals just shows how much work we’ve put in.”

Clark, Youngman and fellow senior Nathan Cumings were proud of how the team came together to rise to the occasion, and felt the strong bond within the group played a key role in winning the tournament championship.

The Mounties will compete in the MHSAA Regionals next Thursday (Oct. 8) beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Haslett High School.

Congratulations to our Boys Tennis Team on claiming the I8 Conference Tournament Championship and driving Northwest Community Schools in The Direction of Greatness!

We’re excited to share an incredible opportunity for families in our community!

Expectant mothers and infants born on or after June 1, 2026, who live in Blackman Charter Township or the City of Jackson may be eligible for Rx Kids benefits.

Eligible moms receive $1,500 during pregnancy, and eligible babies receive $500 per month for the first six months after birth.

Maverick, one of our Northwest Kindergarten students, was recently diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. The Northwest Community has the opportunity to come together and support Maverick and his family. You can help by purchasing items from their Amazon Wishlist below.

Michigan Reconnect is your ticket to a tuition-free college degree or certificate! The Reconnect program provides eligible students with a chance to work toward an associate degree or Pell-eligible skills certificate at in-district community colleges, tuition-free.

Youth For Understanding is seeking host families to welcome international exchange students from over 70 countries. Families can host short-term or for a full school year. Learn more at yfuusa.org/meetthestudents or contact Deb Fry at Dfry@yfu.org

or 517-750-8696.

Become a foster parent and help provide a safe, supportive home for children in need. Learn more at Michigan.gov/HopeForAHome or call 1-855-MICHKIDS for more information through Michigan DHHS.